Auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation for Crigler-Najjar syndrome type I.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation (APOLT) has the long-term potential to correct the underlying abnormality in Crigler-Najjar syndrome type 1 (CNS1) without the need for total liver replacement.
BACKGROUND: Orthotopic liver transplantation has been used successfully to replace the defective enzyme in CNS1. Experimental studies have shown that only 1% to 2% of the normal hepatocyte mass is needed for bilirubin conjugation. If APOLT corrects the underlying metabolic abnormality, it has the advantage of preserving the native liver, which would serve as a "safety net" should the graft fail, and there is the potential for gene therapy in the future with possible withdrawal of immunosuppression.
METHODS: Seven APOLT procedures were performed in six recipients with CNS1. Median age at transplantation was 10.5 years. Six transplants were performed as a left auxiliary liver transplant, and one was performed as a right auxiliary liver transplant. Median serum bilirubin level at transplantation was 320 micromol/L. All patients required 12 to 16 hours of phototherapy daily before the transplant to maintain serum bilirubin levels between 250 and 350 micromol/L.
RESULTS: Median serum bilirubin level was 50 micromol/L at day 5 after the transplant and 23 micromol/L at a median follow-up of 32 months. In four children, early severe acute rejection developed, requiring conversion to tacrolimus; one underwent a second transplant for chronic rejection and graft atrophy but died from lymphoproliferative disease 6 months after the second transplant.
CONCLUSIONS: This report shows that APOLT is technically feasible and provides adequate hepatocyte mass to correct the underlying metabolic abnormality in CNS1.